Tag: Book Review

ARC Book Review: The Shards of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #2) by Nicole Platania

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 436 pages
Author: Nicole Platania
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 22nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The quest is over, but the curse has only just begun.

During her journey to the Mystique Mountains, Ophelia uncovered twisted secrets of love and war. Now, she’s left to pick up the pieces while stepping into her new role. But when a chancellor of a minor clan delivers a destructive premonition, Ophelia’s appointment is challenged, forcing her into a trial period–one that heightens the tensions already brewing in her relationships.

Amid the battles for alliances, the Angel, Damien, returns with more prophetic musings and threats. In order to defeat her political enemies, prove her worth, and solve the Angel’s message, Ophelia must fight to unravel the secrets of her opponents and heal her own wounds. But with war looming and scars of the past surfacing, can she find answers before time runs out?

The second installment in the The Curse of Ophelia series is rife with trials of growth, challenges of love, and games of politics. The Shards of Ophelia is perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, Raven Kennedy, and Carissa Broadbent.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

SOPHOMORE SUCCESS.

Excuse me? THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING.

From the beginning I was wrapped up into this story. I enjoyed book one, and this blew it out of the water. I am officially attached to these characters, the plot and everything else in-between.

I loooove that it was dual POV. There’s a lot of complex emotions and hard choices to make. It all tore at my heart and made me ache. I love how this was written though. It felt real, with flawed characters doing their best, trying to take that next step forward and realizing what things you have to let go.

The romance picked up in ways I had been hoping for and I am HERE FOR IT. I love this found family and the new people that are being taken into the group. The other subtle relationships that may be popping up. The intensity at which I hate the antagonists. How the plot moves through fast and quiet times seamlessly. THE ANGST AT WHICH THIS ROMANCE BRINGS ME TO MY KNEES.

It’s all here, it’s all fantastic. Time to read this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: 1-2 open – low/moderate explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, near death experiences, torture, physical and magical altercations, battle themes

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Book Review: Slaying the Vampire Conqueror (Mortal Enemies to Monster Lovers) by Carissa Broadbent

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 27th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She was commanded to kill him with a single strike to the heart. She didn’t expect her own to betray her. Sylina has sacrificed everything for her goddess–her soul, her freedom, her eyes. Life in service to the Arachessen, a cult of the Goddess of Fate, has turned Sylina from orphaned street-rat to disciplined killer, determined to overthrow Glaea’s tyrannical king. But when a brutal vampire conqueror arrives on their shores, Sylina faces an even deadlier adversary. She’s tasked with a crucial mission: infiltrate his army, earn his trust… and kill him. Atrius is a terrifying warrior carving an unstoppable path through Glaea. Yet when Sylina becomes his seer, she glimpses a dark and shocking past–and a side of him that reminds her far too much of parts of herself she’d rather forget. Sylina’s orders are clear. The conqueror cannot live. But as the blood spilled by Glaea’s tyrant king runs thicker, her connection with Atrius only grows stronger. A connection forbidden by her vows. A connection that could cost her everything.

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is a standalone fantasy romance set in the Crowns of Nyaxia world, full of heart-wrenching forbidden romance, dark curses, and epic battles – perfect for fans of The Bridge Kingdom and the From Blood and Ash series. It i s an installment of the heart-pounding fantasy romance series, Mortal Enemies to Monster Lovers . If you like forbidden romance, dark curses, bad*ss heroines, and morally-gray heroes, you’ll devour this sexy, addictive series.

I LOVE THIS WORLD.

After four books in this world I just love it. I love being back in it and seeing another couple and other parts of the land.

I really enjoyed this romance! I liked that the main vampire, Atrius had a different vibe than the previous love interests we’ve seen so far. He’s almost soft. He’s a warrior with a back story, and we love a backstory folks. I liked the slow burn build he had with Sylina. I wouldn’t flat out call it enemies to lovers, but there’s some tension from not knowing if you can trust another person and that worked well here.

Plot wise, there were a few slower moments. Especially initially it took me a second to feel invested. Once things got going I did enjoy the progression. The spice fits well into the story and the ending has some good reveals and I can easily see how this will work into future books in the Crowns of Nyaxia world.

Definitely recommend reading this because the author mentioned we’ll see Atrius and Sylina again (!!).

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical and magical altercations, loss of life, battle themes, creature attacks, weapons violence

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Book Review: The Hookup Plan (The Boyfriend Project #3) by Farrah Rochon

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Farrah Rochon
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: August 2nd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Strong female friendships and a snappy enemies-to-lovers theme take center stage in this highly anticipated romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of The Dating Playbook.

Successful pediatric surgeon London Kelley just needs to find some balance and de-stress. According to her friends Samiah and Taylor, what London really needs is a casual hookup. A night of fun with no strings. But no one—least of all London—expected it to go down at her high school reunion with Drew Sullivan, millionaire, owner of delicious abs, and oh yes, her archnemesis.

Now London is certain the road to hell is paved with good sex. Because she’s found out the real reason Drew’s back in Austin: to decide whether her beloved hospital remains open. Worse, Drew is doing everything he can to show her that he’s a decent guy who actually cares. But London’s not falling for it. Because while sleeping with the enemy is one thing, falling for him is definitely not part of the plan.

ENDED SWEET.

This trope (one night stand) is one I normally don’t pick up, but I have enjoyed Rochon’s previous two books in this series and wanted to give it a chance. While I still didn’t love it initially and had to let it grow on me, it DID by the end. I really loved the progression of this relationship. The rivalish banter dynamics between London and Drew were fantastic. I loved that Drew has been smitten for a long time and took the time to show London just how loved she could be.

I also liked the setting. A pediatric surgeon was such an amazing career to read throughout. There was a nice balance of career and personal decisions alongside the clear fact that this was a romance read first. I loved the quiet moments London and Drew started having together, eating food, hanging out, and reconnecting while figuring out how they came to be where they are.

Just a solid read that I ate up in a day. I have loved all of the friendships between these three women and look forward to more books by this author!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open door; med-high explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: domestic abuse mentioned, alcoholism mentioned, death of a parent from cancer

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ARC Book Review: Tilly in Technicolor by Mazey Eddings

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Mazey Eddings
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: August 15th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Tilly in Technicolor is Mazey Eddings’s sparkling YA debut about two neurodivergent teens who form a connection over the course of a summer.

Tilly Twomley is desperate for change. White-knuckling her way through high school with flawed executive functioning has left her burnt out and ready to start fresh. Working as an intern for her perfect older sister’s start up isn’t exactly how Tilly wants to spend her summer, but the required travel around Europe promises a much-needed change of scenery as she plans for her future. The problem is, Tilly has no idea what she wants.

Oliver Clark knows exactly what he wants. His autism has often made it hard for him to form relationships with others, but his love of color theory and design allows him to feel deeply connected to the world around him. Plus, he has everything he needs: a best friend that gets him, placement into a prestigious design program, and a summer internship to build his resume. Everything is going as planned. That is, of course, until he suffers through the most disastrous international flight of his life, all turmoil stemming from lively and exasperating Tilly. Oliver is forced to spend the summer with a girl that couldn’t be more his opposite—feeling things for her he can’t quite name—and starts to wonder if maybe he doesn’t have everything figured out after all.

As the duo’s neurodiverse connection grows, they learn that some of the best parts of life can’t be planned, and are forced to figure out what that means as their disastrously wonderful summer comes to an end.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an eARC.

SUNSHINE.

Oh my gosh, I LOVED THIS BOOK. It is everything I love about reading upper YA and I am a puddle of goo over Tilly and Oliver. THEY ARE PRECIOUS. The whole book is swoony and absolutely one of the sweetest books ever. I loved the descriptions of how Tilly and Oliver were both feeling towards each other. That burst of first love that overtakes your soul is next level and it was brought to life by Eddings.

I loved both of the main characters separate and together. I loved Tilly for her continual resilience and perseverance while maintaining this breath of optimism. She’s been put under so much pressure to succeed a “certain” way that watching that unravel broke my heart. Those conversations with her Mom and sister, Mona, in the second half of the book pulled at all of my heartstrings. And Oliver?? The cutest grumpy boy EVER. I loved his journey too and learning about how he saw the world as well. The undeniable chemistry between Tilly and Oliver will make you giddy.

The setting and general plot was fantastic. I loved all of the color aspects, the nail polish business, traveling around Europe, sight seeing and all of the falling in love scenes. It’s a perfect balance of the romance with the sub-plots that brought this whole book together. I had a hard time putting this down because it brought a smile to my face every time I picked it up. It’s full of meaning and impact and gosh dang everyone should pick this one up.

I LOVED IT SO MUCH PLEASE READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: one very brief & super vague scene
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: ableism towards ADHD and autism, alcohol consumption

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